The Cure by. Pedro Urvi | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Cure

Author: Pedro Urvi

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 2/24/26

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing, Inc.

Categories: Young Adult, Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Post Apocalyptic

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Inc. for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

From internationally bestselling author Pedro Urvi comes a gripping new adventure that follows one young woman’s perilous journey to defy a divine curse and unearth a lost cure that could save humanity.

Ava’s people are cursed.

Long after an ancient and mysterious Apocalypse reduced what remained of humanity to a primitive tribe living in the shadows of sphinx and pyramid, a horrific transformation eventually overtakes each member of the community, turning them into vicious and terrifying monsters.

Every year, the capricious god Siaais selects three champions from the tribe to undertake a perilous quest for the Cure, the key to the salvation of Ava’s people. And every year, those champions fail, never to return.

But this year, something extraordinary happens. Instead of three warriors, Siaais chooses only one—Amos—along with a scholar and a healer: Ava’s cousin Amelia, and Ava herself. So begins an adventure in which past, present, and future collide. As Ava and her companions race against time to reach the Cure, they face dangers and mysteries beyond their imagining in a world where nothing at all is as it seems.

Content Warning: violence, death

I was asked to read and review this arc – though it’s out of my comfort zone, I liked the book cover and the synopsis, so I thought, why not? I usually read dystopian romance, and though this didn’t have a romance as a focal point, it was still an interesting read.

The first half of the story did go slowly for me. Ava, Amelia and Amos are the chosen ones from their tribe to find a cure for the disease that is making people transform into zombielike creatures. On their journey through ruins they meet new people from other tribes with the same goal. So it is a race to find this cure for everyone.

From what we gather as Ava and crew meet other tribes, each tribe has different levels of knowledge. It felt like Ava’s tribe was the most primitive, whereas Emma was someone who knew a lot of tech, and Logan had magic. So it made me curious about what else was in this world.

The story picks up at the halfway point and then ends in a flurry of a tiny bit of romance , unexpected deaths, action, violence, and a big twist I was definitely not expecting!

I’m not sure if this will be a series, since it’s not stated in the synopsis – but hopefully it is a series, because that ending was a cliffhanger.

Final Thoughts:

This story has a slow build in the beginning but it really caught my interest in the second half where so many things happen. It also ends in a really unexpected cliffhanger. I enjoyed the twist in the story! Definitely check this one out if you like Young Adult Dystopia/Sci-Fi books.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Fall of Iris Henley by. Jennifer Graham | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Fall of Iris Henley

Spice Rating:

Author: Jennifer Graham

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 2/24/26

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Wednesday Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

For fans of Megan Lally and Kara Thomas, a twisty thriller about a Texas teen accused of murder who’s desperate to clear her name.

All it takes to ruin someone’s life is the stroke of a key. Just ask Iris Henley. Her life is destroyed when someone posts an anonymous message on her high school’s subreddit thread: “Iris Henley is a killer. I’ve been too scared to come forward until now, but I saw her murder Rocky and Lynette last summer.”

Just like that, Iris loses everything. Her reputation. Her friends. Her hope of getting into college on scholarship. Even, possibly, her freedom, once the police start to investigate. After all, she’s the perfect suspect: Rocky was her boyfriend, and Lynette was her ex-best friend—and the girl he was cheating on her with. But Iris didn’t do it, and now it’s up to her to clear her name by finding out who did—before it’s too late.

Propulsive, sharp, and absolutely twisty from the New York Times bestselling author who brought readers the Veronica Mars duology, Jennifer Graham’s YA thriller is unputdownable.

Content Warning: alcohol use, drug use, violence

Iris Henley is trying to move on after her boyfriend Rocky was found killed, along with her ex-best friend, Lynette. But someone has started a rumor that is was Iris who killed them. Now Iris is trying to find out who is spreading the rumors and who can trust around her.

Iris is a cheerleader, part of the in crowd, but she has her flaws. She was part of the reason her ex-bestie lost her spot on the cheer team, putting Iris in the top spot. But when everyone starts to turn on her, she kind of gets a taste of what Lynette went through.

I really like how twisty this got, and I didn’t predict some of the reveals at the end. There is betrayal, and sometimes Iris feels like an unreliable narrator because the night of the killings were fuzzy due to her being out of it, but eventually the truth is revealed and I was nicely surprised!

Final Thoughts:

This was a quick, twisty mystery thriller where one girl has to find out the truth about who killed her boyfriend and ex-bestie, and also find out who she can really trust around her.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Goodbye and Everything After by. Mae Coyiuto | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Goodbye and Everything After

Spice Rating:

Author: Mae Coyiuto

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 2/17/26

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Magical Realism, Filipino Representation

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A teen girl comes face to face with her dad’s spirit when she ignores a strict Filipino superstition in this contemporary young adult novel that tackles grief, family tension, and first love.

It’s been five years since Nika’s beloved father passed away, but her family has never fully grieved. They don’t speak of him much at all, except on the anniversary of his death.

Whenever they visit her father’s grave, Nika’s superstitious mother still insists on practicing pagpag, a Filipino belief that you can never go directly home after attending a funeral—or risk the spirit of the departed following you back home.

But when her mom’s new fiancé suddenly shows up at the cemetery for this year’s memorial for her dad, she furiously walks out, breaking the pagpag superstition. The next day, she finds herself face-to-face with the ghost of her dead father. . . and Nika’s the only one who can see him.

As she spends time reconnecting with her dad’s ghost, Nika learns about her parents’ past and how they started dating back in high school. And when she starts to fall for her neighbor Seph and accidentally re-creates memories of her parents’ love story with him, her dad’s spirit slowly becomes more solid and alive. Fearing that she’ll lose her dad again, Nika makes it her mission to find a way to make her dad stay permanently, no matter what the cost.

With a perfect blend of humor and heart, Mae Coyiuto artfully brings past to present in a way that explores grief head-on.

Content Warning: grief, cursing

Nika is a teenager and dealing with a lot of emotions. Her mom is engaged to be married to their dentist, and Nika feels like she is the only one grieving her dad’s death. She is a teenager, so she has some very strong feelings and thoughts about everything, and she curses.

What drew me to this story was the Filipino representation, more interestingly the Chinese-Filipino representation that I’m not to familiar with. I love seeing my people represented in books, so this was a great way for me to learn more about one of the many different cultures that thrive in the Philippines. Even though I’m not Chinese-Filipino I still recognized some of the foods they talked about, which I love. I related to the family expectations Nika is dealing with and family drama.

When her dad appears to her, I thought it was fitting, because it gave her a sense of closure at the end and helped the family come together to not only honor his memory, but deal with the grief each of them have been handling, almost alone, but not really alone.

There is even a little teenage romance, which I thought was cute.

Final Thoughts:

I loved the Filipino representation in this book with the cultural practices, the food, and the family dynamics. I thought this was a heart felt story that dealt with grief and moving on, which can be really strong feeling to manage when you are a teenager. But I thought this story did a great job of showing how closure, forgiveness, and moving on can be healing for everyone.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Lonely Hearts Day by. Kasie West | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Lonely Hearts Day

Author: Kasie West

Narrator(s): Renee Dorian

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 113 Listening Time: Approximately 2 hours 52 min

Publication Date: 2/10/26

Publisher: Tantor Media

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Novella

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Tantor Media for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

It isn’t that Scarlett Landry doesn’t believe in love, her parents’ relationship is perfect, after all. It’s just that she doesn’t think she should be forced to celebrate it. Forced to listen to terrible poetry and watch Valentine’s Day roses being distributed to everyone around her at school. If there is a relationship status that deserves its own holiday, it’s single-hood.

Content Warning: divorce

+ This is a super cute Valentine’s Day romance. Scarlett throws a party for single people her Freshman year in high school, and she and her small group of friends have a blast. So they do it every year and the parties just get bigger.

+ The romance between Scarlett and her friend, Jack, is really cute. It follows them (quickly) through each year in high school on Valentine’s Day. They start off strong, but over the years grow apart when Jack dates someone else and Scarlett deals with her parents divorce. But in the end, their love is undeniable, they just had to wait for someone to make a move.

+ Narrator did a great job!

~ It is a teen romance so just expect party games like spin the bottle and 7 seconds in Heaven (but with a twist). Also there is teenage drama.

Final Thoughts:

This is a very cute, teen/young adult, childhood friends to lovers romance for Valentine’s day! It’s also a quick read because it’s a novella, and I thought the narrator did a great job.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Better Than Revenge by. Kasie West | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Maybe This Time | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Sun and the Starmaker by. Rachel Griffin | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: The Sun and the Starmaker

Author: Rachel Griffin

Narrator(s): Suzy Jackson

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448 Listening Time: Approximately 11 hours 7 min

Publication Date: 2/17/26

Publisher: Recorded Books

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Fairy Tale

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Recorded Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

There once was a village so far north that most considered it the top of the world… and in that village, the Sun fell in love with her Starmaker. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches comes a whimsical and sweeping romantic fantasy.

Nestled deep in the snowy mountains of the Lost Range, the small village of Reverie endures on a miracle. Beyond the reach of the Sun, Reverie is dependent upon the magic of the mysterious Starmaker: every morning, he trudges across a vast glacier and pulls in sunlight over the peaks, providing the village with the light it needs to survive.

Aurora Finch grew up on tales of the Starmaker’s magic, never imagining she’d one day meet him. But on the morning of her wedding, a fateful encounter in the frostbitten woods changes everything. The Starmaker senses a powerful magic within her and demands she come study under his guidance. With her newfound abilities tied to the survival of the village, Aurora is swept away to his ice-covered castle at the mountain’s peak.

The Starmaker is as cold and distant as the dark woods, leaving Aurora to explore his enchanted castle with only an immortal rabbit for company. Yet the more she discovers about the sorcerer, the stronger their ruinous attraction grows, pulling her closer to the secrets he refuses to share. A deadly frost approaches, and Aurora must uncover what the Starmaker is hiding before she is left in an endless winter that even the Sun cannot touch.

Content Warning: death, grief

+ The narrator did a great job voicing all the characters in this story.

+ This is a beautifully told story that starts off with a fairytale. It definitely gave me Frozen + Beauty and the Beast vibes. Aurora loved the story of the Starmaker as a child, a Sun goddess who fell in love with a human, who then becomes the Starmaker. And when Aurora becomes the next Starmaker Rising, her whole world changes! I loved all the magical elements of the story. This story is set in a very cold climate and it felt like it from start to finish.

+ Aurora has a deep love for her family and she does a lot of things for them. I liked that about her. Her character goes through a few things and find that she wants to shine on her own, without being a bride until it was her choice to marry. She trains to be the next Starmaker with the current Starmaker’s help. The Starmaker (Caspian) is not a happy man, he’s a grouch and wants to be left alone – he’s been alive too long, lived with loss and pain and now with Aurora becoming the next Starmaker, he knows his own time was coming to an end. So they clash a lot because Aurora is so stubborn.

+ The romance is emotional, heartbreaking and bittersweet. Aurora and the Starmaker clash a lot, but being forced to train and live together, makes something more grow between them. Friendship and then love. There is a big price to being a Starmaker – it causes pain, it causes death, and yet without a Starmaker, a whole village could die. So there is big responsibility in the role, but the price that has to be paid is painful – as Aurora finds out. This is categorized as young adult, but there is one spicy scene which isn’t very graphic, but it is there. So I don’t know if this is more New Adult? Not sure.

~ I enjoyed the story a lot but Aurora was so stubborn and always fighting Caspian for no real reason except being mad at him because he revealed she was the next Starmaker and it changed her life. Yet it wasn’t his fault, it was the sun who chose her! He keeps telling her if she fights her role as Starmaker she will die, but she keeps fighting it and him. She took out her anger on him every chance she got…which was frustrating. I wanted her to grow up. So I didn’t totally love her character – there is growth at the end when she is again forced to face her responsibilities, but she is very stubborn.

Final Thoughts:

This story is told like a fairytale with magic, lovable creatures, and themes of family. I didn’t quite love Aurora all the time throughout the story but I guess her stubbornness is what kept her love with Caspian going. I still enjoyed her story about falling in love with the Starmaker, it’s beautiful and heartbreaking. This is a beautifully told and narrated story about love, magic, fate, sacrifice, stubbornness and grief.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Bring Me Your Midnight by. Rachel Griffin | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Nature of Witches by. Rachel Griffin | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Heart’s Gambit by. J.D. Myall | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: (closed door)

Title: Heart’s Gambit (#1)

Author: J.D. Myall

Narrator(s): Khaya Fraites, Eric Lockley, Alaska Jackson

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 335 Listening Time: Approximately 12 hours

Publication Date: 2/3/26

Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel, Young Adult

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Macmillan Young Listeners for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A thrilling and romantic debut fantasy where competitors from two prominent, time-traveling Black families must fight in a deadly magical duel – and find themselves falling in love.

The Baldwins and the Davenports have been sworn enemies for centuries. Ever since Venus Davenport and Titus Baldwin, two enslaved kids, fell in love, tried to run away, and got caught by their mistress, Sabine, a powerful witch. Desperate for freedom, they struck a bargain, and she gifted their families the ability to exist outside of time, along with magic to survive and thrive.

Those gifts came at a price.

Once a generation, their families must put forth a competitor for a magical duel to the death to feed Sabine’s immortality. This time, Emma Baldwin – a wish spinner – and Malcolm Davenport – a maker of illusions – are chosen.

But when they meet to check out the competition, sparks fly. Soon, the two are exchanging letters, having secret meetings, and fighting off their cursed urges to hurt one another, all while trying not to fall in love. And if they are ever going to have a chance to be together, they only have one choice: to put an end to Sabine’s curse, once and for all.

J.D. Myall’s Heart’s Gambit is an irresistible journey of dazzling magic, unforgettable first love, and daring to dream of something more.

Content Warning: violence, death, trauma, slavery, racism

Sworn enemies, a family curse, slavery, history, trauma, a deadly game, and forbidden love? I was intrigued by the synopsis. And let me say the narrators did such an amazing job – it was the reason why I was riveted to the story!

I don’t usually like stories where there is a lot of time jumping and travel but this story has a lot of it but I didn’t mind. I like the years Emma and Malcolm would travel to. We would get a sense of how Black people were treated in certain eras but it let us know that no year has been good to them and they have had to survive anyway they could through every era since they were brought as slaves to the USA. Emma’s family runs a circus and performs but Malcolm performs too, as a singer. These young ones are raised to hate each other’s family but a forbidden love grows between them.

I was rooting so hard for Emma and Malcolm because I love that they found love with all the hate going on. They try to work together in coming up with a plan to beat their common enemy Sabine at the deadly games they have to fight in. But they fall in love, like their ancestors, the reason why the curse on their families exist in the first place. Their love isn’t easy because with the curse comes bloodlust to kill one another. So throughout the story not only are they falling in love and trying to figure out a plan, but they are trying to hold back feelings of wanting to kill one another also!

There is a strong element of family in this book. At some points Emma and Malcolm were so conflicted about their love because their families were against it. But they had to make some strong and almost heart-breaking choices.

One issue I had with the story was all this talk about these deadly games they have to compete in, but these games/trials only start at 80% in the book. I wish it started earlier.

I do think things for the most part things get wrapped up especially when it comes to Emma and Malcolm’s forbidden love but the ending definitely let’s us know what is to come in book two.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the story telling, and the narrators. The time travel was important in giving us insight and history about what Emma and Malcolm, their ancestors and people had to go through. I thought there was a lot of action and magic, but I did want the games to start earlier in the book. Overall though, I found this to be a really entertaining story that was emotional at times.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Stolen Midnights by. Katherine Quinn | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Stolen Midnights (#1)

Author: Katherine Quinn

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 2/3/26

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Delacorte Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This magical new YA romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of To Kill a Shadow will steal your heart. Set in Andalay, a world where the ruling Fates bestow gifts among the favored, a thief must join forces with the palace darling after he unwittingly steals a necklace with the power to change everything.

When Damien, a cold and hardened thief, is hired to steal a gift from the powerful Fates meant for Andalay’s sweetheart, Wren Hayes, he finds himself entangled in a web of secrets.

The gift? A locket containing his own phototroph.

Once the locket is opened, hidden truths unravel, ones that shed light on the ruthless ways of the upper-class society. Yearning for the three Fates and the magical gifts they bestow, the lords of Andalay will go to any length to keep their power—including murder.

Brought together by destiny, and fighting a temptation that neither understand, Wren and Damien navigate a seedy world where the truth can destroy not only their lives, but the city itself.

Content Warning: violence, death

Wren doesn’t have good standing in society or among her family, and when her birthday magic gift isn’t given to her, it makes her reputation even worse. Damien, is a thief, and he is the one who stole Wren’s magic gift, a locket – with his picture inside it. But the question is why? When another thief steals it from him he reluctantly joins forces with Wren to find this gift.

Wren and Damien are from different classes, she’s a pampered young lady from a rich family and Damien is from the streets. They clash in personalities, but I found their bickering pretty fun. There is an attraction growing between them but Damien runs from her each time he feels more for her, and she gets upset with him a lot about it. There is a tiny bit of spice, there are barely details in the act of it.

But with this quest to find the missing gift, Wren stumbles onto something more sinister that involves the Fates (the ones that gift the magic), and the high lords in society – including her own father. There are a few twists and turns at the end that was a surprise and it ends in a cliffhanger.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a fun, young adult fantasy with a surprise ending I didn’t expect. I love Wren and Damien’s back and forth banter – they are both pretty stubborn. But I love the rich girl/poor boy trope so I was invested in their romance. I also thought the mystery about the high lords and the operation they were hiding really added to the mystery. Overall, a pretty good start to the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

To Shatter the Night by. Katherine Quinn | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

To Kill a Shadow by. Katherine Quinn | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dragon Cursed by. Elise Kova | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice:

Title: Dragon Cursed (Dragon Cursed, #1)

Author: Elise Kova

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 1/6/26

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, Series

The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…

Since the dragons emerged–along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people–there’s only one human city that remains standing: Vingard.

But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to the threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything–and everyone–you love.

Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.

And I’m terrified that I might be next.

There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.

Because Lucan definitely knows something.

And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get.

Content Warning: death, violence, torture

I have the hard cover sprayed edged version of this book and it is gorgeous!

+~ Isola is Valor Reborn and the savior for all of Vinguard, if she can learn how to harness and use her power. But Isola has a secret – she doesn’t feel like she is the savior everyone wants her to be. In fact, she feels like she is dragon cursed and she’s doing her best to hide it. I could sympathize with Isola’s mental state – she’s scared, her parents aren’t with her (for different reasons), there is a lot of pressure on her. She’s keeping secrets and afraid of the Vicar, but there were some spots in the story I was frustrated with her. She’s lying to her best friend, but then gets mad when Lucan lies to her. But she does grow so that’s good.

+~ World building is interesting but focused on the Tribunal taking place, which is a trial where competitors become Mercy Knights at the end of the trial. The trial was okay, I wasn’t sure what they were supposed to be doing to prove they could be amazing Mercy Knights. The dragons are enemies in this story but we don’t know much about the history and I want to know more. I do feel like we were thrown into the story a bit and I had to catch up with understanding what Etherlight and sigils were.

+~ Secondary characters play a big part in this story but I needed more about her parents because their role in this story is important but we barely get anything. I did love Isola’s relationship with her best friend, Saphia. There are other characters at the end of the book who I hope we get to know more in book two.

+ There is a little bit of romance. Lucan is the Vicar’s adopted son, and he’s been tasked to keep his eye on Isola. Isola doesn’t like him because an incident in the past, but during the Tribunal, they spend more time with one another and decide to team up. Being around one another makes their attraction grow. I was definitely rooting for Lucan and Isola but we’ll have to see what happens in book two.

+ My favorite part has to be the ending, which has a few twists, some I suspected, but it was still fun seeing it play out and all the action that comes with it. It’s a cliffhanger though!

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one but I do want to learn more about the dragons or dragon shifters and the magic. I need more history. This first book focused on the Tribunal, which was interesting, but I felt like we were thrown into this world quick. Isola as the FMC is conflicted and challenged, at times she was frustrating but there is growth. I liked the growing romance, and I really loved the ending of this book! I loved the twists and the action – it is a cliffhanger though. We’ll see what happens in book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Arcana Academy by. Elise Kova | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Duel with the Vampire Lord by. Elise Kova | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic #2) by. Elise Kova| Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Deal with the Elf King | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Night Terror by. Vincent Ralph | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Night Terror (Bleak Haven, #2)

Author: Vincent Ralph

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 240

Publication Date: 1/20/26

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Horror

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Wednesday Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Who the hell holds up a bookstore? That’s what Noah asks when his favorite spot is suddenly targeted by masked attackers.

But these people don’t want a ransom. They are searching for Bleak Haven’s very own urban legend – The Burning Book.

When something with a thirst for flesh creeps from its pages, Noah must team up with the other hostages and try to escape the mall without turning their town into a bloodbath.

Content Warning: death, violence

I thought this book had much more action than book one, Dead Fake. I enjoyed that it was fast paced and had a zombie coming after a bunch of kids in a mall!

I still think I’m not the right audience for this series because I’m older and yes, it reminds me of R.L. Stine Goosebumps, but again, I have just grown out of it.

But I think teens would enjoy this series.

Final Thoughts:

I think teens and younger young adults who like YA Suspense/Horror would really enjoy this.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Dead Fake by. Vincent Ralph ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dead Fake by. Vincent Ralph | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Dead Fake (Bleak Haven, #1)

Author: Vincent Ralph

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 256

Publication Date: 1/20/26

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Horror

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Wednesday Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Would you Swipe to Die?

When the new craze takes over Bleak Haven High, Ava Wilson refuses to join in. As the niece of an infamous murderer, it’s the last thing she needs.

The mysterious website allows people to view their own ‘death’ – an AI generated version of their final slasher-movie-moments. But, when some of her classmates’ deepfakes are replicated in real life, Ava can either catch the killer…or be the next victim.

Content Warning: death, murder

There’s been a trend at school called Swipe or Die, where there are AI produced videos of how someone will die. It’s been called a deep fake when someone finally does actually die, someone close to Ava. Ava is the niece of a murderer so she’s had an interesting life and family – and this cuts close to home.

I think teens and younger young adults will like this one. It has teenage friendship drama. There is mystery, suspense, horror, and a surprising twist.

For me it was an okay read but I kind of lost interest in the middle, only because I think I’m not the target audience. I think I would have enjoyed this when I was a teen though! I was always reading R.L. Stine in my younger years.

Final Thoughts:

I think teens and younger young adults who like YA Suspense/Horror would really enjoy this. I will be reading book two since I was gifted an arc so I look forward to reading that one.